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If you are staying in Chicago over winter, make sure to get out and enjoy some of the many special events our city has to offer:

Holiday Lights, City LightsChicago Architecture Foundation
See downtown Chicago's beautiful city lights at night and see the holiday lights on Michigan Avenue aboard a heated trolley. The tour includes two stops with views of the city and holiday lights. Learn how both people and nature impacted the development of the city and hear the stories of the architects, developers and leaders who played key roles in shaping the city.

Caroling at Cloud GateEvery Friday until Dec 20, Millennium Park - Cloud Gate
Celebrate the holidays with a cherished tradition in Chicago. Hundreds of singers gather each week in the Park.

Christkindlmarket Chicagountil Dec 24, Daley Plaza
Visit the largest traditional Christmas market outside of Europe! Every year, the Daley Plaza is transformed into a holiday village complete with Santa’s house and candy cane striped booths. Vendors offer a wide range of products, from hand-crafted ornaments, toys and gifts, to traditional German food, sweets and beverages.

Lincoln Park ZooLightsLincoln Park Zoo, most weekends until Jan 4
This ongoing free event features beautiful and brilliant (and free!) winter lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Along with open animal exhibits, the events includes seasonal light displays, hot chocolate, and food vendors,

Ice Skating at the Midway or Millennium Park Ice Skating rinksEvery day until March 8, 2015
Ice skating is one of the best ways to have a lot of fun over the winter break, and beyond. Both The Midway and Millennium Park rinks rent skates, for $5-10.

Art Institute of Chicago
Passion, inspiration, creativity, wonder—these are just a few of the experiences you’ll discover in your Art Institute stocking this holiday season. Join the Art Institute to unwrap all the gifts the museum has for you in during the holiday season. Do not forget that with your UChicago student ID card, students have free access to the Art Institute.

The Holiday Season at Chicago Theaters
Pick your favorite and enjoy! From the beloved Christmas Carol, through the Very Merry Madrigal to the majestic, traditional Nutcracker, Chicago theaters offer annual holiday program for individuals or the whole families. Your UChicago student ID card entitles you to discounts at selected asdvenues.

Tristan Perich: Noise Patterns
Sat, Dec 13, Logan Center-Performance Penthouse 901
Expanding on Perich's 1-Bit Symphony and tonal works for electronic circuits and acoustic instruments, Noise Patterns is a composition for sequenced 1-bit patterns of white noise, programmed for and performed by microchip. In a tidal wave of 1-bit noise, the music is an investigation into the foundational limits of computation, which surface in the seemingly simple world of randomness.

There is, of course, much more. Explore the holiday guides on one of the Chicago's event websites: ChooseChicago shopping guide or TimeOut Chicago.But no matter what you end up doing, the OIA wishes you all very happy holidays!